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Episode 1: Why the Duration Until Onset of Antidepressant Matters
Overview
Pharmacology for MDD is limited by low efficacy, delayed response, and side effects. Research on the pathophysiology of the disease that includes the glutamatergic system and GABA signaling is ushering in a new era for rapidly acting antidepressants.
Learning Objectives
After completing this educational activity, you should be able to:
- Identify cases of major depressive disorder in your practice that would benefit from faster-acting antidepressant treatment
Target Audience
Psychiatrists; primary care physicians; and nurse practitioners & physician assistants in psychiatry and primary care settings
Program Description
Anita Clayton, MD, and Michael Thase, MD, discuss the limitations of current standard of care antidepressants for major depressive disorder (MDD), including delayed response, failure to achieve remission, relapse, adverse events, and living with a reduced quality of life, creating an unmet need in effective treatment for patients with MDD. Newer understanding of the clinical phenotypes of individuals with depression that addresses interactions between glutamatergic, GABA, and hyperactive hypothalamic pituitary adrenal actions and genetics, environment, and therefore epigenetic factors facilitated by neuroactive steroids (NAS) has led to the development of medications that target these areas. NAS are natural and synthetic steroid-based compounds that regulate neuronal function through concurrent effects on neuronal excitability and gene expression. They impact central nervous system (CNS) function through allosteric modulation of neurotransmitter receptors including inhibitory effects via GABA-A receptor agonists, such as allopregnanolone, and excitatory effects via NMDA receptor class of glutamate receptor agonists, such as pregnanolone sulfate. Drs Clayton and Thase take a deep dive into the neurobiology of depression and the mechanics of new faster acting treatment methods.
From the Series: Expediting Results, Improving Treatment Outcomes in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder
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Support Statement
Supported by an educational grant from Sage Therapeutics and Biogen.
Learning Objective
After completing this educational activity, you should be able to:
- Identify cases of major depressive disorder in your practice that would benefit from faster-acting antidepressant treatment
Release and Expiration Dates
This CME activity was published in January 2023 and is eligible for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ through February 29, 2024.
Statement of Need and Purpose
Standard therapeutics for acute major depressive disorder (MDD) often take weeks to months to achieve response and remission, resulting in considerable morbidity and disruption in patients’ personal, professional, family, and social lives, as well as the risk for suicidal behavior. Clinicians often switch antidepressants in an effort to improve response, although little evidence supports this strategy compared with continuing the initial medication. Advancements in the understanding of the pathology of MDD have led to the development of rapid-acting antidepressants. Clinicians need education on new and emerging therapy options that could offer expedited results to reduce morbidity and also, via a shorter duration of treatment, reduce the burden of ongoing adverse effects. Additionally, understanding the patient perspective would aid clinicians in communicating about treatment options with them.
Unlabeled and Investigational Usage
The faculty of this educational activity may include discussions of products or devices that are not currently labeled for use by the FDA. Faculty members have been advised to disclose to the audience any reference to an unlabeled or investigational use.
No endorsement of unapproved products or uses is made or implied by coverage of these products or uses.
Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indicators, contraindications and warnings.
Review Process
The faculty members agreed to provide a balanced and evidence-based presentation and discussed the topics and CME objectives during the planning sessions. The faculty’s submitted content was validated by CME Institute staff, and the activity was evaluated for accuracy, use of evidence, and fair balance by the Chair and a peer reviewer who is without conflict of interest.
The opinions expressed herein are those of the faculty and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the CME provider and publisher or the commercial supporter
© Copyright 2023 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.
Faculty Affiliation
Michael Thase, MD
Professor of Psychiatry
Perlman School of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Anita Clayton, MD
Professor & Chair
Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences
Professor, Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology
University of Virginia School of Medicine
Charlottesville, VA
Financial Disclosure
The CME Institute adheres to the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). Any individuals in a position to control the content of a continuing education activity, including faculty, content developers, reviewers, staff, and others, are required to disclose to learners the presence or absence of any relevant financial relationships with an ACCME-defined ineligible company within the preceding 24 months of the activity. The ACCME defines an “ineligible company” as one whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
The CME Institute has mitigated all relevant conflicts of interest prior to the commencement of the activity. None of the individuals involved in the content have relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies except the following:
Dr Thase has received consluting fees from Acadia, Inc., Akili, Inc., Alkermes PLC, Allergan, Inc., Axsome Therapeutics, Inc., BioHaven, Inc., Bocemtium Consulting, S.L., Boehringer Ingelheim International, CatalYm GmbH, Clexio Biosciences, Gerson Lehrman Group, Inc., H. Lundbeck, A/S, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Janssen, Johnson & Johnson, Luye Pharma Group, Ltd., Merck & Company, Inc., Otsuka Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd., Pfizer, Inc., Sage Pharmaceuticals, Seelos Pharmaceuticals, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd.; has received grant/research support from Acadia, Inc., Allergan, Inc., AssureRx Health, Axsome Therapeutics Inc., BioHaven, Inc., Intracellular, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd., Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd.; and has served on the advisory board for Janssen and Lundbeck, A/S.
Dr Clayton has equity interest/stocks in Mediflix, LLC; stock options with Eurythmics and S1 Biopharma; has received consulting fees from Brii Biosciences, Fabre-Kramer, Field Trip Health, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Mind Cure Health, Praxis Precision Medicines, PureTech Health, S1 Biopharma, Sage Therapeutics, Takeda/Lundbeck, Vella Bioscience, Inc, and WCG Med Avante-ProPhase; has served on the advisory board for AbbVie, Inc, Ovoca Bio plc, Praxis Precision Medicines, S1 Biopharma, and Sage Therapeutics; and has received royalties/copyright from Ballantine Books/Random House, Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire, and Guilford Publications.
Michael R. Page, PharmD, RPh
Independent Medical Director/Medical Writer
Plainsboro, New Jersey
Dr. Page is a consultant for BioCentric, Inc. and American Medical Communications, Inc.
None of the other planners, reviewers, and CME Institute staff for this educational activity have relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.
Accreditation Statement
The CME Institute of Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc., is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Credit Designation
The CME Institute of Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc., designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Note: The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accept certificates of participation for educational activities certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by the ACCME.
To obtain credit for this activity, study the material and complete the CME Posttest and Evaluation.
Available Credit
- 0.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
- 0.50 Participation